Paul Vigano Sells 14,500,002 Shares of Aveanna Healthcare (NASDAQ:AVAH) Stock

Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAH) major shareholder Paul Vigano sold 14,500,002 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.50, for a total value of $166,750,023.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a company’s stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Aveanna Healthcare Trading Down 0.8%

NASDAQ:AVAH opened at $13.59 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $2.97 billion, a PE ratio of 11.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.90. Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $5.93 and a fifty-two week high of $13.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.47, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $9.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.99.

Aveanna Healthcare (NASDAQ:AVAH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 13th. The company reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.05. Aveanna Healthcare had a net margin of 10.56% and a return on equity of 80.70%. The business had revenue of $670.48 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $638.61 million. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. will post 0.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aveanna Healthcare News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Aveanna Healthcare this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada raised its price target to $16 from $10 and upgraded AVAH to “outperform.” The upgrade reinforces the bullish outlook following the stock’s recent rally. Benzinga analyst coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Truist Financial increased its price target to $15 from $11, although it maintained a “hold” rating. Other analysts have also raised targets after Aveanna exceeded quarterly earnings and revenue expectations. Benzinga analyst coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Aveanna reported quarterly EPS of $0.22 versus the $0.17 consensus estimate and revenue of $670.48 million versus expectations of $638.61 million. The earnings beat supports the improved analyst outlook and investor interest in the shares.
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will participate in the Jefferies Healthcare Services and Technology Conference on September 15. The presentation and one-on-one investor meetings could provide additional business updates, but the event is not an immediate financial catalyst. Aveanna conference announcement
• Negative Sentiment: Major shareholders, including Bain Capital- and J.H. Whitney-affiliated holders, disclosed substantial sales in a roughly $176 million offering. Additional sales by CEO Jeff Shaner, director Rodney Windley, and insider Edwin Reisz at $11.50 per share could weigh on sentiment and increase concerns about selling pressure, even though these holders retained sizable positions. Home Health Care News offering report

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently issued reports on AVAH. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on Aveanna Healthcare from $10.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Aveanna Healthcare from $11.00 to $15.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday. UBS Group boosted their target price on Aveanna Healthcare from $8.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, August 14th. Raymond James Financial upped their target price on Aveanna Healthcare from $13.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Aveanna Healthcare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Aveanna Healthcare currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $12.89.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Aveanna Healthcare

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Aveanna Healthcare in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $63,504,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Aveanna Healthcare by 38.0% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,577,010 shares of the company’s stock worth $45,564,000 after purchasing an additional 1,535,351 shares in the last quarter. Braidwell LP increased its position in shares of Aveanna Healthcare by 39.1% during the second quarter. Braidwell LP now owns 3,065,106 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,268,000 after purchasing an additional 861,600 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Aveanna Healthcare by 17.7% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,849,057 shares of the company’s stock valued at $15,110,000 after purchasing an additional 278,429 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen LLC raised its stake in shares of Aveanna Healthcare by 135.9% in the fourth quarter. Nuveen LLC now owns 1,571,308 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,838,000 after purchasing an additional 905,316 shares in the last quarter. 87.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Aveanna Healthcare

Aveanna Healthcare, Inc (NASDAQ: AVAH) is a national provider of in-home health care services, specializing in pediatric skilled nursing, therapy, and related support for medically complex and chronically ill children. The company delivers a range of clinical and therapeutic solutions designed to enable patients to receive care in the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for hospital stays and long-term institutional care. Aveanna’s offerings include registered nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, behavioral health counseling, and durable medical equipment coordination.

In addition to pediatric home health services, Aveanna operates adult home health and personal care support programs, assisting elderly and disabled adults with daily living activities, medication management, and rehabilitation therapies.